Mobile robot system and method of controlling the same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are a mobile robot system to restrict a traveling region of a robot and to guide the robot to another region, and a method of controlling the same. Only when a remote controller reception module of a beacon senses a signal transmitted from a mobile robot, the sensed result is reported to the mobile robot in the form of a response signal. In addition, the Field-of-View (FOV) of the remote control reception module is restricted by a directivity receiver. Only when the signal transmitted from the mobile robot is sensed within the restricted FOV, the sensed result is reported to the mobile robot.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos.2009-0042784 and 2009-101527, filed on May 15 and Oct. 26, 2009 in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments relate to a mobile robot system to restrict a travelingregion of a robot and to guide the robot to another region, and a methodof controlling the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a mobile robot is a device to perform an operation whileautonomously traveling in a traveling region without user control. Arobot cleaner which is a mobile robot sucks foreign materials such asdust from a floor while autonomously traveling in a predeterminedcleaning region, such as a home or office, so as to perform a cleaningoperation.

In order to allow the mobile robot to perform the operation, the mobilerobot is prevented from escaping from the traveling region. A virtualwall unit (hereinafter, referred to as a “beacon”) to prevent the mobilerobot from entering a border (e.g., a doorway or a division between aliving room and a kitchen) of the traveling region is provided so as torestrict the traveling region of the mobile robot.

The beacon to restrict the traveling region of the mobile robotcontinuously transmits an infrared ray (IR) signal to the border of thetraveling region so as to generate a beam region. The mobile robotchanges a traveling direction thereof so as not to cross the beam regionwhen the IR signal is detected while the mobile robot travels in orderto perform the operation, thereby performing avoidance navigation. Themobile robot performs avoidance navigation only when the signaltransmitted from the beacon is detected. However, since the beaconcontinuously transmits the signal even when the mobile robot is not in asignal arrival range of the beacon, high power for transmitting thesignal is unnecessarily wasted. Due to the unnecessary powerconsumption, a battery of the beacon is frequently charged and thus isfrequently replaced with a new battery. Thus, a user may be dissatisfiedwith the life span of the battery.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect to provide a mobile robot system to improveenergy efficiency of a battery of a beacon by reporting a responsesignal to restrict a traveling region of a mobile robot to the mobilerobot only when a remote controller reception module in the beacondetects a signal transmitted from the mobile robot with low powerconsumption, and a method of controlling the same.

Additional aspects and/or advantages will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows and, in part, will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing a mobilerobot system including: a mobile robot to transmit a signal whiletraveling in a traveling region; and a beacon to receive the signaltransmitted from the mobile robot and to transmit a response signal tothe mobile robot, wherein the beacon restricts a Field-of-View (FOV) toreceive the signal and transmits the response signal to the mobile robotonly when the signal transmitted from the mobile robot is sensed to bewithin the restricted FOV.

The signal transmitted from the mobile robot may include an infraredray, a visible ray, an ultrasonic wave or a laser beam.

The response signal transmitted from the beacon may include an infraredray, a visible ray, an ultrasonic wave, a Radio Frequency (RF) signal ora laser beam.

The mobile robot may further include one or more transmitters totransmit the signal to report a traveling state of the mobile robot, andthe one or more transmitters may transmit the signal in packet units.

The transmitters may be 360-degree spread lenses which are mounted on anupper side of a front surface of a main body of the mobile robot totransmit the signal in all directions in which the mobile robot travels.

The mobile robot may further include one or more receivers to receivethe response signal of the beacon, and a robot control unit to controlavoidance navigation of the mobile robot if the response signal of thebeacon is received.

The avoidance navigation of the mobile robot may enable the mobile robotto rotate until the response signal of the beacon is not received.

The robot control unit may control the mobile robot to start rotationwhen the response signal of the beacon is received and control themobile robot to finish rotation and to start cleaning navigation in adirection, in which the rotation is finished, when the response signalof the beacon is not received.

The plurality of receivers may include 180-degree spread lenses whichare mounted on a front surface and a side surface of a main body of themobile robot at a predetermined interval to transmit and receive thesignal in all directions in which the mobile robot travels.

The beacon may be mounted so as to be separated from the mobile robot.

The beacon may further include a directivity receiver to receive thesignal transmitted from the mobile robot within the restricted FOV, andthe directivity may be a slit-shaped remote controller reception modulewith a width, a length and a height to restrict the FOV.

The directivity receiver may include a first directivity receiver tosense whether the mobile robot has approached a confinement border ofthe traveling region and second directivity receivers to sense whetherthe mobile robot has crossed the confinement border and has approached aleading region so as to move to another region.

The first directivity receiver may receive a signal to prevent themobile robot from crossing the confinement border while the mobile robotperforms cleaning while traveling in the traveling region.

The first directivity receiver may be a slit for a confinement borderrecognition mode, which is mounted on an upper side of a front surfaceof a main body of the beacon.

The second directivity receiver may receive a signal to indicate thatthe mobile robot has completed cleaning of the traveling region. Thesecond directivity receivers may be slits for a movement mode, which aremounted on the left and right sides of the first directivity receiver.

The beacon may further include an omnidirectional receiver to receivethe signal transmitted from the mobile robot over 360 degrees and tosense whether the mobile robot has approached.

The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing a method ofcontrolling a mobile robot system, the method including: at a mobilerobot, transmitting a signal while traveling in a traveling region;determining whether the signal transmitted from the mobile robot issensed within a restricted Field-of-View (FOV) of a beacon; at thebeacon, transmitting a response signal to the mobile robot if the signaltransmitted from the mobile robot is sensed within the restricted FOV;and restricting traveling of the mobile robot such that the mobile robotdoes not cross a confinement border of the traveling region when themobile robot receives the response signal of the beacon.

The restriction of the traveling of the mobile robot may includecontrolling avoidance navigation of the mobile robot such that themobile robot rotates until the response signal of the beacon is notreceived.

The mobile robot may start rotation when the response signal of thebeacon is received and finishes the rotation and start cleaningnavigation in a direction, in which the rotation is finished, when theresponse signal of the beacon is not received.

The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing a method ofcontrolling a mobile robot system, the method including: at a mobilerobot, transmitting a signal while traveling in a traveling region; at abeacon, receiving the signal transmitted from the mobile robot over 360degrees and determining whether the mobile robot has approached thebeacon; at the beacon, transmitting a response signal to the mobilerobot if the mobile robot has approached the beacon; and, at the mobilerobot, performing avoidance navigation to prevent collision with thebeacon when the mobile robot receives the response signal of the beacon.

The determining of whether the mobile robot has approached the beaconmay include determining that the mobile robot has approached the beaconif the beacon senses an “approach” signal transmitted from the mobilerobot.

The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing a method ofcontrolling a mobile robot system, the method including: at a mobilerobot, transmitting a signal when cleaning of a traveling region iscompleted; determining whether the signal transmitted from the mobilerobot is sensed within a restricted Field-of-View (FOV) of a beacon; atthe beacon, transmitting a response signal to the mobile robot if thesignal transmitted from the mobile robot is sensed within the restrictedFOV; and guiding the mobile robot to cross a confinement border of thetraveling region and to move to another region when the mobile robotreceives the response signal of the beacon.

The guiding of the mobile robot may include enabling the mobile robot toapproach the beacon along a guide region formed by the beacon,determining whether the mobile robot has approached an approach regionof the beacon, at the beacon, transmitting the response signal to themobile robot when the mobile robot has approached the approach region ofthe beacon, and at the mobile robot, performing wall-followingnavigation along the approach region of the beacon so as to cross theconfinement border, if the mobile robot receives the response signal ofthe beacon.

The beacon may receive the signal indicating that the cleaning of thetraveling region has been completed and sense whether the mobile robothas approached a guide region so as to cross the confinement border tomove to another region.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, instead oftransmission of a signal with high power consumption, a remotecontroller reception module with low power consumption is used. Onlywhen the remote controller reception module of a beacon senses a signaltransmitted from a mobile robot, the sensed result is reported to themobile robot in the form of a response signal. Accordingly, energyconsumption of a beacon battery may be minimized while restricting thetraveling region of the mobile robot, and energy efficiency of thebeacon battery can be improved. In addition, the Field-of-View (FOV) ofthe remote control reception module is restricted by a directivityreceiver. Only when the signal transmitted from the mobile robot issensed within the restricted FOV, the sensed result is reported to themobile robot. Therefore, the movement restriction region of the mobilerobot is minimized such that a region to be cleaned by the mobile robotis not restricted. A lighthouse function to guide movement of the mobilerobot to another room when the mobile robot completes cleaning of oneroom is added, such that various user requirements may be satisfied evenwhen several rooms are cleaned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing the overall configuration of a mobile robotsystem according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a mobile robotaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a beaconaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of a mobile robot system according toan embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram explaining the principle of the operationof a mobile robot system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of restricting a travelingregion of a mobile robot in a mobile robot system according to anembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of preventing collision of amobile robot in a mobile robot system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram explaining the principle of operation ofa mobile robot system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of guiding a mobile robot tomove to another region in a mobile robot system according to anembodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a table showing signal transmission of a mobile robotaccording to a beacon setting state in a mobile robot system accordingto an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. Theembodiments are described below to explain the present invention byreferring to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the overall configuration of a mobile robotsystem according to an embodiment. The mobile robot system includes amobile robot 10 to perform a cleaning operation while autonomouslytraveling in a predetermined region and to transmit an infrared ray (IR)signal in packet units, and a beacon 20 separated from the mobile robot10 to receive the signal transmitted from the mobile robot 10.

The beacon 20 is movably mounted at a border (for example, a cornerbetween a living room and a kitchen, a door between rooms, or the like)of a traveling region in order to restrict a traveling region of themobile robot 10. The beacon 20 detects a signal transmitted from themobile robot 10 and omnidirectionally transmits a response signalaccording to the detected result to the mobile robot 10 so as to controlavoidance navigation such that the mobile robot 10 is prevented fromcrossing the border (confinement border) of the traveling region and themobile robot 10 is prevented from colliding with the beacon 20.

In addition, the beacon 20 has a lighthouse function to lead the mobilerobot 10 to another room such that the mobile robot performs a cleaningoperation of another room after finishing a cleaning operation of oneroom.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a mobile robotaccording to an embodiment.

In FIG. 2, the mobile robot 10 includes a main body 12 forming theappearance thereof and a pair of wheels 14 mounted under the main body12 at a predetermined interval to drive the mobile robot 10. The pair ofdriving wheels 14 is selectively driven by a driving unit (motor)rotating the wheels such that the mobile robot 10 travels in a desireddirection. A plurality of auxiliary wheels to support the main body 12and to smoothly travel the mobile robot 10 may be mounted on the frontand rear sides of the driving wheels 14.

In addition, the mobile robot 10 includes one transmitter 100 totransmit an IR signal in packet units in order to report that the mobilerobot travels, and a plurality (e.g., five) of receivers 102 to receivethe response signal of the beacon 20. The transmitter 100 is mounted onthe upper side of the front surface of the main body 12 and uses a360-degree spread lens to transmit the IR signal omnidirectionally (over360 degrees). The plurality of receivers 102 is mounted on the frontsurface and the side surface of the main body 12 at a predeterminedinterval and uses a 180-degree spread lens to receive the IR signalomnidirectionally.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a beaconaccording to an embodiment.

In FIG. 3, the beacon 20 includes a main body 22 forming the appearancethereof, and a sensor window 24 mounted on the circumference of the mainbody 22 to transmit or receive a signal. The outer wall of the sensorwindow 24 has a circular shape such that the beam of the transmitted orreceived signal is not bent.

In addition, the beacon 20 includes a first directivity receiver 200 toreceive a signal (high/medium/low/approach signal) transmitted while themobile robot 10 travels in order to perform cleaning of one room withina restricted Field-Of-View (FOV) and to sense whether the mobile robot10 has entered a border (confinement border) of a traveling region,second directivity receivers 202 to receive a signal indicating that thecleaning of one room has been completed within the restricted FOV and tosense whether the mobile robot 10 has approached a guide region to guidethe mobile robot 10 from one room to another room, an omnidirectionalreceiver 204 to receive an “approach” signal transmitted from the mobilerobot 10 and to sense whether the mobile robot 10 has approached thevicinity of the beacon 20, and a plurality (e.g., three) of transmitters206 to omnidirectionally transmit a response signal (an IR signal whichis transmitted in order to prevent the mobile robot from crossing theconfinement border or guide the mobile robot to another region)according to the detected result to the mobile robot 10.

The first directivity receiver 200 is a directivity reception slit for aconfinement border recognition mode, which is mounted on the upper sideof the front surface of the beacon 20 so as to restrict a region toreceive the signal (high/medium/low/approach) signal transmitted whilethe mobile robot 10 performs cleaning of one room. The directivityreception slit for the confinement border recognition mode hasdirectivity by restricting a signal reception region using a gap(width), a length and a height thereof.

Each of the second directivity receivers 202 is a directivity receptionslit for a movement mode, which is mounted on the left or right side ofthe first directivity receiver 200 so as to restrict a region to receivea signal indicating that the cleaning of one room has been completedfrom the mobile robot 10. The directivity reception slit for themovement mode has directivity by restricting a signal reception regionusing a gap (width), a length and a height thereof, similar to thedirectivity reception slit for the confinement border recognition modecorresponding to the first directivity receiver 200. The width of thedirectivity reception slit for the movement mode corresponding to thesecond directivity receiver 202 is greater than that of the directivityreception slit for the confinement border recognition mode in order tolead the mobile robot 10 from one room to another room.

The plurality (e.g., two) of second directivity receivers 202 is mountedon the left and right sides of the first directivity receiver 200 so asto guide the mobile robot 10 from a right reception region to a leftreception region or from a left reception region to a right receptionregion when the mobile robot 10 moves from one room to another room.

The omnidirectional receiver 204 is an omnidirectional receiver providedon the central portion of the lower side of the beacon 20 so as toreceive an “approach” signal transmitted from the mobile robot 10 over360 degrees. The omnidirectional receiver 204 receives the IR signalfrom any given direction using the refractive and reflective propertiesof a lens 204 a through a reception module 204 b and generates a spreadlight region.

The first and second directivity receivers 200 and 202 and theomnidirectional receiver 204 use a remote controller reception modulewith very low current consumption of a maximum of about 0.4 to 2.0 mA.

The plurality of transmitters 206 transmits a response signal to reporta reception direction and a reception signal to the mobile robot 10 whenthe first and second directivity receivers 200 and 202 and theomnidirectional receiver 204 receive the signal transmitted from themobile robot 100, and uses the 180-degree spread lens.

The beacon 20 further includes a battery 26 to supply driving power ofthe beacon 20, a signal setting switch 28 to set a signal arrivaldistance of the beacon 20 to “high”, “medium” or “low”, and a modesetting switch 30 to set an operation mode of the beacon 20 to the“confinement border recognition mode” or the “movement mode”.

If the signal setting switch 28 is set to “high”, the signal arrivaldistance of the beacon 20 is about 4 m, which corresponds to ½ of thatof a living room of a general home.

If the signal setting switch 28 is set to “medium”, the signal arrivaldistance of the beacon 20 is about 2 m, which corresponds to that of ahallway of a kitchen in a general home.

If the signal setting switch 28 is set to “low”, the signal arrivaldistance of the beacon 20 is about 1 m, which corresponds to the widthof a door in a general home.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of a mobile robot system according toan embodiment.

In FIG. 4, the mobile robot 10 further includes an input unit 104, anobstacle sensing unit 106, a driving unit 108, a battery sensing unit110, a storage unit 112, and a robot control unit 114, in addition tothe basic configuration of FIG. 2.

The input unit 104 includes a plurality of buttons provided on the upperside of the main body 12 of the mobile robot or a remote controller (notshown) so as to enable a user to input a command to perform theoperation of the mobile robot 10.

The obstacle sensing unit 106 senses obstacles such as furniture, officeequipment or walls in a region in which the mobile robot 10 travels. Theobstacle sensing unit 106 emits an ultrasonic signal to a path alongwhich the mobile robot 10 travels, receives the ultrasonic signalreflected from the obstacle, and senses presence/absence of the obstacleand a distance to the obstacle. At this time, the obstacle sensing unit106 may be an IR sensor which includes a plurality of IR emittingelements and light receiving elements so as to emit IR and receive thereflected light.

The driving unit 108 drives both driving wheels 14 provided under themain body 12 of the mobile robot such that the mobile robot 10autonomously travels in the traveling region while changing thedirection thereof, based on obstacle information sensed by the obstaclesensing unit 106, without collision with the wall or the obstacle.

The battery sensing unit 110 senses a charging residual amount of acharging battery 109 to supply the driving power (e.g., energy necessaryto transmit the signals by the plurality of transmitters) of the mobilerobot 10, and sends information about the charging residual amount tothe robot control unit 114.

The storage unit 112 is a memory to store an operating program to drivethe mobile robot 10, a traveling pattern, and location information ofthe mobile robot 10 and obstacle information acquired in the travelingprocess.

The robot control unit 114 is a microprocessor to control the overalloperation of the mobile robot 10. The robot control unit 114 controlsthe transmitter 100 to transmit the IR signal to report that the mobilerobot 10 travels in the packet units, and controls avoidance navigationof the mobile robot 10 until the response signal is not received fromthe beacon 20, if the plurality of receivers 102 receives the responsesignal from the beacon 20.

In FIG. 4, the beacon 20 further includes a storage unit 208 to storeheader information or the like of the mobile robot 10 and a beaconcontrol unit 210 to control the overall operation of the beacon 20, thatis, to control the plurality of transmitters 206 to report that thefirst and second directivity receivers 200 and 202 or theomnidirectional receiver 204 have received the signal transmitted fromthe mobile robot 10 using the IR signal, in addition to the basicconfiguration shown in FIG. 3.

Hereinafter, the operation and effects of the mobile robot system havingthe above-described configuration and the method of controlling the samewill be described.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram explaining the principle of the operationof a mobile robot system according to an embodiment, for example, whenthe operation mode of the beacon 20 is set to a confinement borderrecognition mode.

In FIG. 5, the mobile robot 10 autonomously travels in a travelingregion (e.g., in a direction denoted by a thick arrow), and the beacon20 is provided at the border (e.g., a corner between a living room and akitchen, a door between rooms, or the like) of the traveling region ofthe mobile robot 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, the mobile robot 10 transmits the IR signal toreport that the mobile robot travels through one transmitter 100provided on the upper side of the front surface of the main body 12 ofthe robot in packet units while autonomously traveling in the travelingregion. At this time, the packet signal transmitted from the mobilerobot 10 includes the header information of the mobile robot 10 andsignal data having an intensity of “high”, “medium”, “low”, or“approach” to report that the mobile robot 10 approaches. A packetsignal transmission time is about 180 to 200 msec per cycle.

In the embodiment, if the mobile robot 10 is located far from the beacon20, the beacon 20 does not transmit the signal and thus the energy ofthe beacon battery 26 is not unnecessarily wasted. At this time, thebeacon 20 is in a standby state in order to enable the first directivityreceiver 200 and the omnidirectional receiver 204 to receive the signaltransmitted from the mobile robot 10 using standby power of the remotecontroller reception module with very low power consumption.

The first directivity receiver 200 of the beacon 20 restricts aconfinement border in a slit shape such that the remote controllerreception module has directivity, and senses that the mobile robot 10has approached the confinement border when the signal transmitted fromthe mobile robot 10 enters the restricted confinement border.

The omnidirectional receiver 204 of the beacon 20 receives the signaltransmitted from the mobile robot 10 over 360 degrees and senses thatthe mobile robot 10 has approached the vicinity of the beacon 20 whenthe “approach” signal (the arrival distance of the “approach” signalindicates a distance by which the mobile robot is moved to the vicinityof the beacon enough to collide with the beacon) of the signalstransmitted from the mobile robot 10 is received.

If the first directivity receiver 200 or the omindirectional receiver204 of the beacon 20 receives the signal transmitted from the mobilerobot 10, the beacon 20 omnidirectionally transmits the response signalto the mobile robot 10 to report that the signal of the mobile robot 10has been received through the plurality of transmitters 206 such thatthe mobile robot 10 is prevented from entering the border of thetraveling region or the mobile robot 10 is prevented from colliding withthe beacon 20.

Accordingly, the mobile robot 10 receives the response signal of thebeacon 20 through the plurality of receivers 102 to stop travelingthereof and performs avoidance navigation such that the mobile robot 10is prevented from crossing the border of the traveling region or themobile robot is prevented from colliding with the beacon 20.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of restricting a travelingregion of a mobile robot in a mobile robot system according to theembodiment.

In order to describe the operation, it is assumed that the mode settingswitch 30 of the beacon 20 is set to the confinement border recognitionmode.

In FIG. 6, the mobile robot 10 transmits the IR signal to report thatthe mobile robot travels through the transmitter 100 in packet unitswhile traveling in the traveling region (300).

At this time, the beacon 20 is in the standby state using standby powerof the remote controller reception module with very low powerconsumption, and receives the signal transmitted from the mobile robot10 through the first directivity receiver 200 and transmits the receivedsignal to the beacon control unit 210, when the signal transmitted fromthe mobile robot 10 enters the restricted FOV.

The beacon control unit 210 determines whether the first directivityreceiver 200 has received the signal transmitted from the mobile robot10 (302). If the first directivity receiver 200 of the beacon 20 has notreceived the signal transmitted from the mobile robot 10, the beacon 20maintains the standby state (304).

If it is determined that the first directivity receiver 200 of thebeacon 20 has received the signal transmitted from the mobile robot 10in Operation 302, the beacon control unit 210 senses that the mobilerobot 10 has entered the confinement border and omnidirectionallytransmits the response signal (IR signal) through the plurality oftransmitters 206 in order to report a “forbidden region” to the mobilerobot 10 (306).

The mobile robot 10 receives the response signal of the beacon 20through the plurality of receivers 102 and sends the response signal tothe robot control unit 114.

The robot control unit 114 determines whether the plurality of receivers102 has received the response signal of the beacon 20 (308). If themobile robot 10 has not received the response signal of the beacon 20,the method progresses to Operation 300 and the subsequent operationsthereof are repeated.

If it is determined that the mobile robot 10 has received the responsesignal of the beacon 20 in Operation 308, the robot control unit 114stops the cleaning navigation of the mobile robot 10 and controlsavoidance navigation such that the mobile robot 10 rotates so as not tocross the confinement border (310).

Thereafter, the robot control unit 114 determines whether the responsesignal of the beacon 20 is not sensed by the rotation avoidancenavigation of the mobile robot 10 (312), and continues to performrotation avoidance navigation of the mobile robot 10 until the responsesignal of the beacon 20 is not sensed, if the response signal of thebeacon 20 is sensed.

If it is determined that the response signal of the beacon 20 is notsensed in Operation 312, the rotation avoidance navigation of the mobilerobot 10 is finished and cleaning navigation of the mobile robot isstarted in a direction in which the rotation is finished (314).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of preventing collision of amobile robot in a mobile robot system according to an embodiment.

In order to describe the operation, it is assumed that the mode settingswitch 30 of the beacon 20 is set to the confinement border recognitionmode.

In FIG. 7, the mobile robot 10 transmits the IR signal to report thatthe mobile robot travels through the transmitter 100 in packet unitswhile traveling in the traveling region (400).

At this time, the beacon 20 is in the standby state using standby powerof the remote controller reception module with very low powerconsumption, and receives the “approach” signal transmitted from themobile robot 10 through the omnidirectional receiver 204 and transmitsthe received signal to the beacon control unit 210.

The beacon control unit 210 determines whether the omnidirectionalreceiver 204 has received the signal transmitted from the mobile robot10 (402). If the omnidirectional receiver 204 of the beacon 20 has notreceived the “approach” signal transmitted from the mobile robot 10, thebeacon 20 maintains the standby state (404).

If it is determined that the directivity receiver 200 of the beacon 20has received the “approach” signal transmitted from the mobile robot 10in Operation 402, the beacon control unit 210 senses that the mobilerobot 10 has approached the vicinity of the beacon 20 andomnidirectionally transmits the response signal (IR signal) through theplurality of transmitters 206 in order to report a “forbidden region” tothe mobile robot 10 (406).

The mobile robot 10 receives the response signal of the beacon 20through the plurality of receivers 102 and sends the response signal tothe robot control unit 114.

The robot control unit 114 determines whether the plurality of receivers102 has received the response signal of the beacon 20 (408). If themobile robot 10 has not received the response signal of the beacon 20,the method progresses to Operation 400 and the subsequent operationsthereof are repeated.

If it is determined that the mobile robot 10 has received the responsesignal of the beacon 20 in Operation 408, the robot control unit 114stops cleaning navigation of the mobile robot 10 and controls avoidancenavigation such that the mobile robot 10 rotates so as not to collidewith the beacon 20 (410).

Thereafter, the robot control unit 114 determines whether the responsesignal of the beacon 20 is not sensed by the rotation avoidancenavigation of the mobile robot 10 (412), and continues to performrotation avoidance navigation of the mobile robot 10 in an oppositedirection of the traveling direction until the response signal of thebeacon 20 is not sensed, if the response signal of the beacon 20 issensed.

If it is determined that the response signal of the beacon 20 is notsensed in Operation 412, the rotation avoidance navigation of the mobilerobot 10 in the opposite direction of the traveling direction isfinished and cleaning navigation is started in the opposite direction ofthe traveling direction (414).

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram explaining the principle of the operationof a mobile robot system according to an embodiment, for example, whenthe operation mode of the beacon 20 is set to a movement mode.

In FIG. 8, the mobile robot 10 travels along a guide region and thebeacon 20 is mounted between a border (e.g., a door between rooms) of atraveling region of the mobile robot 10.

As shown in FIG. 8, the mobile robot 10 transmits an IR signal to reportthat cleaning is completed over 360 degrees through the transmitter 100provided on the upper side of the front surface of the main body 12 ofthe robot, if the mobile robot 10 completes cleaning of one room.

The second directivity receiver 202 of the beacon 20 restricts a left orright FOV (guide region) in a slit shape such that the remote controllerreception module has directivity and senses that the mobile robot 10 hasentered the guide region when the signal transmitted from the mobilerobot 10 enters the restricted left or right FOV (guide region).

The omnidirectional receiver 204 of the beacon 20 receives the signaltransmitted from the mobile robot 10 over 360 degrees and senses thatthe mobile robot 10 has approached the vicinity of the beacon 20 whenthe “approach” signal transmitted from the mobile robot 10 is received.

In the case where the second directivity receiver 202 or theomnidirectional receiver 204 of the beacon 20 senses the signaltransmitted from the mobile robot 10, the beacon 20 omnidiectionallytransmits a response to report that the signal of the mobile robot 10has been received through the plurality of transmitters 206 such thatthe mobile robot 10 approaches the beacon 20 along the guide regionformed by the beacon 20 so as to move from one room to another room orthe mobile robot 10 performs wall-following navigation along an approachregion (halo FOV) when the mobile robot senses the “approach” signal.

Accordingly, the mobile robot 10 receives the response signal of thebeacon 20 through the plurality of receivers 102, approaches the beacon20 along the guide region, and performs wall-following navigation alongthe approach region (halo FOV) of the beacon 20 when approaching theapproach region (halo FOV) of the beacon 20 so as not to cross theconfinement border.

Although, in FIG. 8, the case were the mobile robot 10 approaches thebeacon 20 along the right guide region, performs wall-followingnavigation along the approach region of the beacon 20 after approachingthe approach region of the beacon 20, and moves from the right room tothe left room is described, the embodiments are not limited thereto. Themobile robot 10 may approach the beacon 20 along the left guide region,perform wall-following navigation along the approach region of thebeacon 20 after approaching the approach region of the beacon 20, andmove from the left room to the right room.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of guiding a mobile robot toanother region in a mobile robot system according to an embodiment.

In order to describe the operation, it is assumed that the mode settingswitch 30 of the beacon 20 is set to the movement mode.

In FIG. 9, the mobile robot 10 transmits the IR signal for the movementmode to report that cleaning has been completed over 360 degrees throughthe transmitter 100, if cleaning of one room is completed (500).

At this time, the beacon 20 is in the standby state using standby powerof the remote controller reception module with very low powerconsumption, and receives the signal transmitted from the mobile robot10 through the second directivity receiver 202 and transmits thereceived signal to the beacon control unit 210, when the signal for themovement mode transmitted from the mobile robot 10 enters the restrictedleft or right FOV.

Accordingly, the beacon control unit 210 determines whether the seconddirectivity receiver 202 has received the signal transmitted from themobile robot 10 (502). If the second directivity receiver 202 of thebeacon 20 has not received the signal transmitted from the mobile robot10, the beacon 20 maintains the standby state (504).

If it is determined that the second directivity receiver 202 of thebeacon 20 has received the signal transmitted from the mobile robot 10in Operation 502, the beacon control unit 210 senses that the mobilerobot 10 has entered the restricted left or right FOV (guide region) andomnidirectionally transmits the response signal (IR signal) through theplurality of transmitters 206 in order to report the “guide region” tothe mobile robot 10 (506).

The mobile robot 10 receives the response signal of the beacon 20through the plurality of receivers 102 and sends the response signal tothe robot control unit 114.

The robot control unit 114 determines whether the plurality of receivers102 has received the response signal of the beacon 20 (508). If themobile robot 10 has not received the response signal of the beacon 20,the method progresses to Operation 500 and the subsequent operationsthereof are repeated.

If it is determined that the mobile robot 10 has received the responsesignal of the beacon 20 in Operation 508, the robot control unit 114controls guide navigation such that the mobile robot 10 approaches thebeacon 20 along the guide region formed by the beacon 20 so as to movefrom one room of which cleaning has completed to another room (510).

Thereafter, the beacon control unit 210 determines whether theomnidirectional receiver 204 has received the “approach” signaltransmitted from the mobile robot 10, while guide navigation isperformed such that the mobile robot 10 approaches the approach region(halo FOV) of the beacon 20 (512).

If it is determined that the omnidirectional receiver 204 of the beacon20 has not received the “approach” signal transmitted from the mobilerobot 10 in Operation 512, the method progresses to Operation 510 andthe beacon 20 continues to perform the guide navigation of the mobilerobot 10.

If it is determined that the omnidirectional receiver 204 of the beacon20 has received the “approach” signal transmitted from the mobile robot10 in Operation 512, the beacon control unit 210 senses that the mobilerobot 10 has approached the approach region (halo FOV) of the beacon 20,and the beacon 20 ommidirectionally transmits a response signal toreport that the “approach” signal of the mobile robot 10 has beenreceived through the plurality of transmitters 206.

Then, the mobile robot 10 receives the response signal of the beacon 20through the plurality of receivers 102 and controls wall-followingnavigation so as to cross the confinement border along the approachregion (halo FOV) of the beacon 20 (514).

Thereafter, the robot control unit 114 determines whether the mobilerobot 10 has crossed the confinement border along the approach region(halo FOV) (516), and the method progresses to Operation 514 so as tocontinue to perform wall-following navigation such that the mobile robotcrosses the confinement border along the approach region (halo FOV) ifthe mobile robot 10 has not crossed the confinement border.

If it is determined that the mobile robot 10 has crossed the confinementborder in Operation 516, the navigation of the mobile robot 10 iscontrolled through the other guide region (the left guide region if themobile robot moves from the right room to the left room along the rightguide region) (518).

In the control of the navigation of the mobile robot 10 through theother guide region, the mobile robot 10 continues to performwall-following along the approach region (halo FOV) until the seconddirectivity receiver 202 (more particularly, the second directivityreceiver shown on the left side of FIG. 5) of the beacon 20 receives thesignal transmitted from the mobile robot 10 is received after the mobilerobot 10 crosses the confinement border and, when the second directivityreceiver 202 of the beacon 20 receives the signal transmitted from themobile robot 10, it is sensed that the mobile robot 10 has entered theleft reception region (guide region) and the mobile robot 10 iscontrolled to start the cleaning navigation of the left room (that is,another room) on the basis of the left guide region (that is, the otherguide region).

FIG. 10 is a table showing signal transmission of a mobile robotaccording to a beacon setting state in a mobile robot system accordingto an embodiment.

In FIG. 10, the user operates the signal setting switch 28 of the beacon20 so as to set the arrival distance of the beacon 20 to “high”,“medium” or “low”. Then, even when the beacon 20 receives the signaltransmitted from the mobile robot 10, the beacon 20 does not transmitthe response signal according to the set value such that the avoidancenavigation of the mobile robot 10 may be differently controlled.

For example, if the user sets the signal setting switch 28 of the beacon20 to “low”, even when the first directivity receiver 200 of the beacon20 receives the signal transmitted from the mobile robot 10, the beacon20 does not omnidirectionally transmit the response signal such that themobile robot 10 ignores avoidance navigation with respect to the signalwith the intensity of “high” or “medium” of the signals transmitted fromthe mobile robot 10, and reports avoidance navigation with respect toonly the signal with the intensity of “low” or “approach” of the signalstransmitted from the mobile robot 10.

For example, if the user sets the signal setting switch 28 of the beacon20 to “medium”, even when the first directivity receiver 200 of thebeacon 20 receives the signal transmitted from the mobile robot 10, thebeacon 20 does not omnidirectionally transmit the response signal suchthat the mobile robot 10 ignores avoidance navigation with respect tothe signal with the intensity of “high” of the signals transmitted fromthe mobile robot 10, and reports avoidance navigation with respect toonly the signal with the intensity of “medium”, “low” or “approach” ofthe signals transmitted from the mobile robot 10.

The above-described example indicates the case where the firstdirectivity receiver 200 of the beacon 20 receives the signaltransmitted from the mobile robot 10 when the mode setting switch 30 ofthe beacon 20 is set to the “confinement border recognition mode”. Ifthe user sets the mode setting switch 30 of the beacon 20 to the“movement mode”, the second directivity receiver 202 of the beacon 20receives the signal for the movement mode transmitted from the mobilerobot 10 to lead the mobile robot 10 to another room through the leftand right guide regions.

Although the signal transmitted from the mobile robot 10 is the IRsignal in the embodiments, the embodiments are not limited thereto. Evenwhen a visible ray, an ultrasonic wave, or a laser signal is used, thesame effects can be realized.

Although the signal transmitted from the beacon 20 is the IR signal inthe embodiments, the embodiments are not limited thereto. Even when avisible ray, an ultrasonic wave, a Radio Frequency (RF) signal or alaser signal is used, the same effects can be realized.

Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would beappreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made inthese embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit ofthe embodiments, the scope of which is defined in the claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile robot system comprising: a mobile robotto transmit a signal while traveling in a traveling region; and a beaconto receive the signal transmitted from the mobile robot and to transmita response signal to the mobile robot, wherein the beacon is operable todetermine if the mobile robot is within a predefined Field-of-View (FOV)based on the signal received from the mobile robot and to activatetransmission of the response signal to the mobile robot when the mobilerobot is determined to be within the predefined FOV, the beacon isoperable to deactivate transmission of the response signal to the mobilerobot when the mobile robot is determined to be outside the predefinedFOV, and in response to receiving the response signal from the beacon,the mobile robot is operable to change a travel direction to move awayfrom the predefined FOV of the beacon.
 2. The mobile robot systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the signal transmitted from the mobilerobot includes at least one of an infrared ray, a visible ray, anultrasonic wave and a laser beam.
 3. The mobile robot system accordingto claim 1, wherein the response signal transmitted from the beaconincludes at least one of an infrared ray, a visible ray, an ultrasonicwave, a Radio Frequency (RF) signal and a laser beam.
 4. The mobilerobot system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile robot furthercomprises: a transmitter to transmit the signal to report a travelingstate of the mobile robot, wherein the signal is transmitted in packetunits.
 5. The mobile robot system according to claim 4, wherein themobile robot comprises a main body and the transmitters with 360-degreespread lenses which are mounted on an upper side of a front surface ofthe main body of the mobile robot to transmit the signal in alldirections in which the mobile robot travels.
 6. The mobile robot systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the mobile robot further includes: areceiver to receive the response signal of the beacon; and a robotcontrol unit to control avoidance navigation of the mobile robot if theresponse signal of the beacon is received.
 7. The mobile robot systemaccording to claim 6, wherein the avoidance navigation of the mobilerobot enables the mobile robot to rotate until the response signal ofthe beacon is not received.
 8. The mobile robot system according toclaim 7, wherein the robot control unit controls the mobile robot tostart rotation when the response signal of the beacon is received andcontrols the mobile robot to finish rotation and to start cleaningnavigation in a direction, in which the rotation is finished, when theresponse signal of the beacon is not received.
 9. The mobile robotsystem according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of thereceivers, the mobile robot comprising a main body, and the receiversincluding 180-degree spread lenses which are mounted on a front surfaceand a side surface of a main body of the mobile robot at a predeterminedinterval to transmit and receive the signal in all directions in whichthe mobile robot travels.
 10. The mobile robot system according to claim1, wherein the beacon is mounted so as to be separated from the mobilerobot.
 11. The mobile robot system according to claim 10, wherein: thebeacon further includes a directivity receiver to receive the signaltransmitted from the mobile robot within the predefined FOV, and thedirectivity receiver is a slit-shaped remote controller reception modulewith a width, a length and a height to restrict to the predefined FOV.12. The mobile robot system according to claim 11, wherein thedirectivity receiver includes a first directivity receiver to sensewhether the mobile robot has approached a confinement border of thetraveling region and a plurality of second directivity receivers tosense whether the mobile robot has crossed the confinement border andhas approached a guide region to move to another region.
 13. The mobilerobot system according to claim 12, wherein the first directivityreceiver receives a signal to prevent the mobile robot from crossing theconfinement border while the mobile robot performs cleaning whiletraveling in the traveling region.
 14. The mobile robot system accordingto claim 13, wherein the beacon comprises a main body, and the firstdirectivity receiver is a slit for a confinement border recognitionmode, which is mounted on an upper side of a front surface of the mainbody of the beacon.
 15. The mobile robot system according to claim 14,wherein the second directivity receivers receive a signal to indicatethat the mobile robot has completed cleaning of the traveling region.16. The mobile robot system according to claim 15, wherein the seconddirectivity receivers are slits for a movement mode, which are mountedon the left and right sides of the first directivity receiver.
 17. Themobile robot system according to claim 10, wherein the beacon furtherincludes an omnidirectional receiver to receive the signal transmittedfrom the mobile robot over 360 degrees and to sense whether the mobilerobot has approached.
 18. A method of controlling a mobile robot system,the method comprising: at a mobile robot, transmitting a signal whiletraveling in a traveling region; determining whether the signaltransmitted from the mobile robot is located within a restrictedField-of-View (FOV) of a beacon; at the beacon, transmitting a responsesignal to the mobile robot if the mobile robot is determined to bewithin the restricted FOV of the beacon; at the beacon, deactivatingtransmission of the response signal to the mobile robot when the mobilerobot is determined to be outside the restricted FOV of the beacon; andchanging a traveling direction of the mobile robot to move away from aconfinement border of the traveling region when the mobile robotreceives the response signal of the beacon.
 19. The method according toclaim 18, wherein the changing of the traveling direction of the mobilerobot includes controlling navigation of the mobile robot such that themobile robot rotates until the response signal of the beacon is notreceived.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the mobile robotstarts rotation when the response signal of the beacon is received andfinishes the rotation and starts cleaning navigation in a direction, inwhich the rotation is finished, when the response signal of the beaconis not received.